Electric energy, natural gas tariffs increases might take effect in Moldova on 1 August

Chisinau, 20 July /MOLDPRES/ - Increases in the price of electricity and natural gas, operated in the previous week by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), could take effect starting 1 August. "Most likely, we will publish the decision in the Official Journal this week and probably they will all come into effect on 1 August”, said ANRE Director Sergiu Ciobanu for the Free Europe radio station.

After a public hearing that lasted 17 hours at the end of the previous week, ANRE increased tariffs for electricity supplied by the Gas Natural Fenosa gas and electricity supplier company by 36 per cent, RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest - by about 30 per cent, while tariffs on natural gas for consumers were increased by 15.4 per cent.

Gas Natural Fenosa called for a doubling of the tariff, RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest an increase of 85 per cent and MoldovaGaz - 51.7 per cent.

The population of the area serviced by Gas Natural Fenosa, with over 700,000 customers, will pay a price of 2.15 lei per kilowatt / hour, against the current 1.58 lei, households connected to RED Nord will pay 2.23 lei per kilowatt / hour, compared to the 1.71 lei they are currently paying, and RED Nord-Vest - 2.33 lei compared against the current 1.73. The approved average price of natural gas for end consumers was 6,538 lei (excluding value-added tax) per 1,000 cubic meters.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)